WASHINGTON – US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D, NY) continued her fight to ensure more working women have a fair shot at earning financial security by closing the pay gap with men and raising the minimum wage.

“Equal Pay Day”, yesterday marked the additional time women must work in 2014 to match what their male counterparts made in 2013.

Gillibrand said on Tuesday that raising the minimum wage would help the workers and the businesses at which they work.

“While our economy in New York is pretty challenged, it is still pretty tough in a lot of areas, at least the unemployment numbers have come down,” the senator said. “I also think when you raise the minimum wage you are really going to help our small businesses because more money is going straight back into the economy -- $22 billion will go straight back into the economy if you raise the minimum wage, so that helps keep our local Main Street businesses thriving, having more money for that new pair of shoes for your kids, there is more food them, better medical, whatever you kid needs, that is how our businesses stay in business.”